Crib assembly

ABSTRACT

A crib includes a plurality of crib legs, a headboard structured disposed on a first side of the crib and extending between a first pair of crib legs, a footboard structure disposed on a second side of the crib and extending between a second pair of crib legs, and a supporting surface disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure. The footboard structure includes a fixed section positioned on an internal side and a movable section positioned on an external side of the crib. A top of the fixed section is positioned a first distance above the support surface, and the movable section is positionable a second distance above the top of the fixed section and is configured to move from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/538,023, filed Sep. 22, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to furniture, and more particularly, to a crib assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Different types of furniture are specially designed for use for babies and young children. As is known, a crib is a bed with high sides, e.g., barred or latticed sides, for a young child or baby. The sides are sufficiently high to prevent the child from climbing over the sides and falling from the crib. The height of these sides, however, may make it more difficult for a person, particularly one of smaller stature, to reach into the crib and attend to the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a furniture assembly including a crib. The crib includes a plurality of crib legs, a headboard structure, a footboard structure, and a supporting surface. The headboard structure is disposed on a first side of the crib and extends between a first pair of the plurality of crib legs. The footboard structure is disposed on a second side of the crib and extends between a second pair of the plurality of crib legs. The supporting surface is disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure. The footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section. The fixed section is positioned on an internal side of the crib, and the movable section is positioned on an external side of the crib. A top of the fixed section is positioned a first distance above the support surface. A top of the movable section is positionable a second distance above the top of the fixed section. The top of the movable section is configured to move from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a furniture assembly including a crib. The furniture assembly includes a headboard structure, a footboard structure, and a supporting surface disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure. The headboard structure is disposed on a first side of the crib. The footboard structure is disposed on a second side of the crib. The supporting surface disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure. The footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section disposed in front of the fixed section. A top of the fixed section is positioned at least 20 inches above the support surface. The movable section is configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the support surface.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a crib assembly. The crib assembly includes a plurality of crib legs, a headboard structure, a footboard structure, a first side structure, a second side structure, and a supporting surface. The headboard structure is disposed on a first side of the crib and extends between a first pair of the plurality of crib legs. The footboard structure is disposed on a second side of the crib and extends between a second pair of the plurality of crib legs. The first side structure is disposed on a third side of the crib and extends between a third pair of the plurality of crib legs. The second side structure is disposed on a fourth side of the crib and extends between a fourth pair of the plurality of crib legs. The supporting surface is disposed between a structure defined by the headboard structure, the footboard structure, the first side structure, and the second side structure. The footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section. A top of the fixed section is positioned a first distance above the support surface. A top of the movable section is positionable a second distance above the top of the fixed section. The top of the movable section is configured to move from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example crib in a first operating mode, according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example crib of FIG. 1 in a second operating mode, according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial assembly of the example crib of FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to aspects of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an example crib assembly 100 in a first operating mode, and FIG. 2 illustrates the example crib 100 in a second operating mode. As described herein, the structures of the crib 100 may be formed from any combination of suitable materials, including, but not limited to, wood, plastic, metal, and the like. In addition, the structures may be assembled according to any combination of fastening techniques, including, but not limited to, the use of screws, nails, pegs, rods, rivets, bolts, supporting brackets and plates, interlocking elements, press-fit connections, adhesives, and the like.

The crib 100 includes a left rear post 101, a right rear post 102, a left front post 103, and a right front post 104, all of which extend upwardly from a floor surface to support the other structures of the crib 100. The crib 100 includes a supporting surface 105 that provides support for a young child or baby situated in the crib 100. The supporting surface 105, for example, provides a sleeping surface for the child. As shown in FIG. 1, the supporting surface 105 is defined by the top surface of a crib mattress 106.

A headboard 110 extends upwardly along the rear side of the crib 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the headboard 110 includes a combination of spaced vertical bars 111 and a planar surface 112. In alternative embodiments, the headboard 110 may include only spaced vertical bars or only planar surfaces. The headboard 110 is supported by the left rear post 101 and the right rear post 102. The headboard 110 may be positioned against a wall and, like most headboards, may include features that make the crib 100 consistent with a particular design style.

A left side 115 extends upwardly along the left side of the crib 100. The left side 115 is supported by the left rear post 101 and the left front post 103. The left side 115 includes spaced vertical bars 116, which allow a person to see the child in the crib 100 through the left side 115.

A right side 120 extends upwardly along the right side of the crib 100, opposite from the left side 115. The right side 120 is supported by the right rear post 102 and the right front post 104. The right side 120 includes spaced vertical bars 121, which allow a person to see the child in the crib 100 through the right side 120.

A footboard assembly 130 extends upwardly along the front side of the crib 100, opposite from the headboard 110. The footboard assembly 130 is supported by the left front post 103 and the right front post 104.

The headboard 110, the left side 115, the right side 120, and the footboard assembly 130 define the sides of an enclosure 107 above the supporting surface 105. The sides of the enclosure 107 are dimensioned to prevent the child from getting out of the crib 100 on his/her own. In the first operating mode shown in FIG. 1, the footboard assembly 130 extends to a height similar to the left side 115 and the right side 120. While the footboard assembly 130 may be lower than the headboard 110, it may still be difficult for a person, particularly one of smaller stature, to reach over the footboard assembly 130 and into the crib 100 to attend to the child. Advantageously, however, the crib 100 provides a second operating mode which lowers the footboard assembly 130 to a more convenient height.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the footboard assembly 130 includes a fixed section 131 and a movable section 135. The fixed section 131 is fixed to the left front post 103 and the right font post 104. The height of the fixed section 131 remains at a fixed height and cannot be adjusted. The fixed section 131 ensures that the height of the footboard assembly 130 is at least this fixed height. The partial assembly of the crib 100 shown in FIG. 3 (without the movable section 135) illustrates the fixed section 131 more clearly.

Meanwhile, the movable section 135 is disposed in front of the fixed section 131 and can be adjusted relative to the fixed section 131 to extend to varying heights. The movable section 135 is coupled to the left front post 103 and the right front post 104 in any appropriate manner to allow it to move up and down and lock at the varying heights. For example, the movable section 135 may be guided along tracks disposed respectively along the left front post 103 and the right font post 104 and may be locked at selected heights by manually-operated spring-biased pins. In alternative embodiments, the movable section 135 may be guided downwards or upwards relative to the supporting surface 105 by an automated mechanism or another electro-mechanical mechanism, which may be controlled by a remote and/or by a control mechanism located on the crib 100 that is not accessible to the child in the crib 100. In alternative embodiments, the movable section 135 may swing down to lock at a lower height. The fixed section 131 includes spaced vertical bars 132 and the movable section 135 includes spaced vertical bars 136. Together the vertical bars 132 and 136 allow a person to see the child in the crib 100 through the footboard assembly 130.

While the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 show the use of vertical bars 132, 136, 111, 116, and 121, it is understood that any combination of the headboard footboard assembly 130, headboard 110, left side 115, and the right side 120 may include any combination of solid vertical panels, spaced vertical bars, and/or other structures, e.g., lattice structures, structures with patterned apertures, etc. Indeed, according to some embodiments, both the left side 115 and the right side 120 include one or more solid panels.

In the first operating mode shown in FIG. 1, the movable section 135 is in a raised position where the top of the movable section 135 is at a maximum height, which is higher than the fixed height of the fixed section 131. In the raised position, the bottom of the movable section 135 may be even with the bottom of the fixed section 131, which is disposed below the supporting surface 105. In alternative embodiments, the crib 100 may include locks or other childproof mechanisms preventing inadvertent unlocking and lowering of the movable section 135. The locks may be unlocked in any suitable manner, including by using a key, entering a combination lock, or performing a predetermined mechanical movement.

In the second operating mode shown in FIG. 2, the movable section 135 is moved to a lowered position so that the top of the movable section 135 is even with the top of the fixed section 131 at the fixed height. With the movable section 135 at the lowered position, a person can more easily reach over the footboard assembly 130 and into the crib 100, while still preventing the child from getting out of the crib 100. When the person is no longer attending to the child, the movable section 135 can be raised to the safer height shown in FIG. 1.

Regulations or standards may govern aspects of crib design. For example, United States federal safety regulations require that the tops of the fixed sides of a crib, including the footboard, extend to a height of at least 26 inches above the supporting surface, e.g., the crib mattress. In addition, according to U.S. regulations, the footboard must be coupled to the rest of the crib in a manner that prevents the footboard from becoming partially detached and creating a gap that may allow the child or a part of the child to slip though and/or get trapped between the footboard and the rest of the crib.

As discussed previously, it may be difficult for a person to reach over the footboard at the height of 26 inches. U.S. federal safety regulations, however, allow some aspects of the crib to be movable. Thus, the footboard may be designed to move between a raised position (at 26 inches) and a lowered position. The height of the footboard in the lowered position must be no less than 20 inches above the supporting surface 105. In general, no movable portion of the crib can have a horizontal surface, which can be used as a toe-hold by the child in the crib, at less than 20 inches above the supporting surface at any time.

Advantageously, the crib 100 can be configured to comply with the U.S. federal safety regulations above. The fixed section 131 of the footboard assembly 130 can be fixed to the crib 100 at a height of 20 inches from the supporting surface 105. The fixed section 131 is securely fixed particularly to prevent the creation of a gap between the footboard assembly 130 and the rest of the crib 100. The top of the movable section 135 has a height of 26 inches in the raised position and a height of 20 inches in the lowered position. The fixed section 131 and the movable section 135 do not have a horizontal surface that presents a toe-hold hazard between the supporting surface 105 and 20 inches above it. In sum, the crib 100 allows a person to reach over the footboard assembly 130 and reach into the crib 100 more easily, while complying with safety standards.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments, and implementations, the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. For example, although some aspects of the present invention may be described with reference to separate elements, it is understood that some elements may be combined to provide an integrated structure while satisfying the functions of the elements. Furthermore, it is also understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular shapes and dimensions described or illustrated in this present application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A furniture assembly, comprising: a crib including: a plurality of crib legs; a headboard structure disposed on a first side of the crib and extending between a first pair of the plurality of crib legs; a footboard structure disposed on a second side of the crib and extending between a second pair of the plurality of crib legs; and a supporting surface disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure, wherein the footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section, the fixed section being positioned on an internal side of the crib and the movable section being positioned on an external side of the crib, a top of the fixed section being positioned a first distance above the support surface, and a top of the movable section being positionable a second distance above the top of the fixed section, the top of the movable section being configured to move from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section.
 2. The furniture assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first side structure disposed on a third side of the crib and extending between a third pair of the plurality of crib legs; a second side structure disposed on a fourth side of the crib and extending between a fourth pair of the plurality of crib legs, the first side structure, the second side structure, the headboard, and the footboard forming an enclosure for the crib.
 3. The furniture assembly of claim 2, wherein the first side structure, the second side structure, and the footboard each include spaced vertical bars, and the headboard includes spaced vertical bars or a solid panel.
 4. The furniture assembly of claim 1, wherein the first distance is at least 20 inches above the supporting surface.
 5. The furniture assembly of claim 1, wherein the top of the movable section is at least 26 inches above the supporting surface when the top of the movable section is the second distance above the top of the fixed section.
 6. The furniture assembly of claim 1, wherein the position of the fixed section may not be adjusted.
 7. The furniture assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for moving the movable section from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section and means for locking the movable section at selected positions.
 8. The furniture assembly of claim 7, further comprising a childproof lock, wherein the childproof lock requires at least one of being accessible from the external side of the crib and requiring a tool to unlock the childproof lock.
 9. The furniture assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of the second pair of the plurality of crib legs includes tracks disposed thereon, the movable section being configured to be guided along the tracks and to be locked at selected positions along the tracks.
 10. A furniture assembly, comprising: a crib including: a headboard structure disposed on a first side of the crib; a footboard structure disposed on a second side of the crib; and a supporting surface disposed between the headboard structure and the footboard structure, wherein the footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section disposed in front of the fixed section, a top of the fixed section being positioned at least 20 inches above the support surface, and the movable section being configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the support surface.
 11. The furniture assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of crib legs, wherein the headboard structure extends between a first pair of the plurality of crib legs and the footboard structure extends between a second pair of the plurality of crib legs, the furniture assembly further comprising: a first side structure disposed on a third side of the crib and extending between a third pair of the plurality of crib legs; a second side structure disposed on a fourth side of the crib and extending between a fourth pair of the plurality of crib legs, the first side structure, the second side structure, the headboard, and the footboard forming an enclosure for the crib.
 12. The furniture assembly of claim 10, wherein the first side structure, the second side structure, and the footboard each include spaced vertical bars, and the headboard includes spaced vertical bars or a solid panel.
 13. The furniture assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of positions includes a position wherein a top of the movable section is at least 26 inches above the support surface and a position where the top of the movable section is substantially flush with the level of the top of the fixed section.
 14. The furniture assembly of claim 10, wherein the position of the fixed section may not be adjusted and wherein the crib includes a childproof lock configured to prevent inadvertent movement of the movable section.
 15. The furniture assembly of claim 10, wherein each one of the second pair of the plurality of crib legs includes tracks disposed thereon, the movable section being configured to be guided along the tracks and to be locked at selected positions along the tracks.
 16. A crib assembly, comprising: a plurality of crib legs; a headboard structure disposed on a first side of the crib and extending between a first pair of the plurality of crib legs; a footboard structure disposed on a second side of the crib and extending between a second pair of the plurality of crib legs; a first side structure disposed on a third side of the crib and extending between a third pair of the plurality of crib legs; a second side structure disposed on a fourth side of the crib and extending between a fourth pair of the plurality of crib legs; and a supporting surface disposed between a structure defined by the headboard structure, the footboard structure, the first side structure, and the second side structure, wherein the footboard structure includes a fixed section and a movable section, a top of the fixed section being positioned a first distance above the support surface, and a top of the movable section being positionable a second distance above the top of the fixed section, the top of the movable section being configured to move from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section.
 17. The crib assembly of claim 16, wherein the fixed section is located on an internal portion of the crib and the movable section is located on an external portion of the crib.
 18. The furniture assembly of claim 16, further comprising means for moving the movable section from the second distance above the top of the fixed section to a position at or below the top of the fixed section and means for locking the movable section at selected positions.
 19. The crib assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of positions includes a position where the top of the moveable section is at least 26 inches above the support surface and a position where the top of the movable section is substantially even with the top of the fixed section.
 20. The crib assembly of claim 16, wherein each one of the second pair of the plurality of crib legs includes tracks disposed thereon, the movable section being configured to be guided along the tracks and to be locked at selected positions along the tracks. 